We all want to stay healthy and the strange thing with health is that even the strangest sounding things are actually the ones recommended by health experts!
This article examines some very strange yet very effective health tips you can try out. So, get a paper and take some notes!
1. Drink Coffee Before a Small Nap
It might sound strange but a study in Japan found that people who take a cup or two of coffee before taking a 20-minute nap had the tendency of being more alert afterward and even performed much better.
If you need to know the biology behind this, then there is a molecule known as Adenosine generated in the brain and usually results from fatigue.
It has long been known that taking a nap helps in clearing out Adenosine but the results are amazing when caffeine is combined with that nap. Caffeine is blocking Adenosine meaning that the recovery process is accelerated even further.
2. Never Brush Your Teeth Immediately After Eating
Now, the title might sound a little out of sorts given we all know that we need to brush our teeth after meals but the catch is that not brush immediately after a meal. This is especially the case if the meal is full of acidic components like citrus fruits, soda, etc.
The reason behind this is that it has been found that such food will soften the enamel, making your teeth susceptible to corrosion. To make sure this did not happen, try to give yourself an hour or so before embarking on cleaning your teeth as usual.
3. Eat More to Eat Less
This is where many people go wrong. We have that notion that eating less throughout the day will keep us from taking in high levels of calories.
In fact, according to Amy Goodson, RD, a dietitian for Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine, taking a small number of carbohydrates will usually make you hungrier for more a feat that will escalate your body calorie level.
The recommended route is to try a diet with more protein to get you full faster and longer-resulting in lower calorie intake.
4. Stay Away from Diet Soda if you really want to Lose Weight
If you are looking to lose weight, then it has been found that diet soda is worse than regular soda so you should stay away from either! In a study done at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, it was established that overweight people who drank diet soda ended up eating food with higher calorie levels than those who drank normal soda.
If you doubt that, the University of Texas also found similar results-they found that people who drank diet soda exhibited an increase in waist circumference size over a period of 10 years. So, its time you quit doing diet sodas altogether.
5. Cool off Your Body with a Hot Beverage
Did you know that you are bound to cool off faster drinking hot coffee than iced coffee? Well, it is not normal for many but it is in countries like India where it is part of the culture to drink hot beverages.
The secret behind this is that your body has a feedback mechanism that will stimulate change in body functions whenever you drink the hot stuff. This way, you will cool off naturally and faster.
6. Are You Feeling Tired? It is the right time to Exercise!
You have had that long day and you feeling fatigued, obviously, you are not thinking of exercising. Strangely, it has been proven that this is the best time to be exercised to improve your state of mind.
Research done and published by Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise clearly shows that exercise leads to an increase in oxygen intake levels. The result is an improved mental state and better concentration.
References:
- Royston, A. (2010). Diet. New York: PowerKids Press.